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Snake Bites: Care Instructions

Your Care Instructions

You have been bitten by a snake. Most snakes are not poisonous. If the snake that bit you was poisonous, you may have been treated with antivenom. Sometimes, a snake bites but does not inject venom. Taking good care of the wound at home will help it heal quickly and reduce your chance of infection.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

If your doctor prescribed medicine, take it exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse call line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.

If your doctor told you how to care for your wound, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:

Wash the area with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.

You may cover the bite with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.

Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.

Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.

Some pain is normal with a snake bite, but do not ignore pain that is getting worse instead of better. You could have an infection.

Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.